Hybrid photovoltaic device and radiant cooling device, system, method and chiller therefor

Abstract

A building-integrated hybrid photovoltaic and radiant cooling device integrated into a building structure, including a chiller, a cooling device for cooling fluid supplied to a radiant cooling panel, a return pipe conveying the fluid from the radiant cooling panel to cool a photovoltaic device, and at least one supply pipe transporting the fluid from the photovoltaic device to the chiller, the cooling device reducing a surface temperature of the radiant cooling panel only to the extent necessary to also avoid condensation being formed on the radiant cooling panel, i.e. to just above the dew point.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A building-integrated hybrid photovoltaic and radiant cooling device, comprising:
 a photovoltaic panel; 
 a radiant cooling panel; 
 a first cooling pipe in direct contact with a back surface of the photovoltaic panel; 
 a second cooling pipe in direct contact with a back surface of the radiant cooling panel; 
 a connecting pipe fluidly connecting the first and the second cooling pipes; 
 a chiller fluidly connected to the first or the second cooling pipe; 
 at least one return pipe conveying the fluid from the chiller to the first cooling pipe; and 
 a frame configured to separate the photovoltaic panel and the radiant cooling panel and form an enclosed space defined by the frame, the photovoltaic panel and the radiant cooling panel, 
 wherein the frame surrounds the edges of the photovoltaic panel and the radiant cooling panel, 
 wherein a thermal insulation layer having length and width dimensions substantially the same as the frame is present in the enclosed space between the photovoltaic panel and the radiant cooling panel, and the first cooling pipe, the second cooling pipe and the connecting pipe are present in the enclosed space and wherein a gap is present between the thermal insulating layer and the second cooling pipe. 
 
     
     
       2. The building-integrated hybrid photovoltaic and radiant cooling device according to  claim 1 , configured to be employed with a variety of facades and roof forms, and to be mounted at a variety of inclinations. 
     
     
       3. The building-integrated hybrid photovoltaic and radiant cooling system according to  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of said building-integrated hybrid photovoltaic and radiant cooling devices adapted to be mounted in series with one another. 
     
     
       4. The building-integrated hybrid photovoltaic and radiant cooling device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an air compressor configured to be supplied with electrical power by the photovoltaic device. 
     
     
       5. The building-integrated hybrid photovoltaic and radiant cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the building-integrated hybrid photovoltaic and radiant cooling device is configured to operate as a window and to selectively open and close. 
     
     
       6. The building-integrated hybrid photovoltaic and radiant cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and the second cooling pipes is comprises a plurality of capillary tubes in direct contact with one of the photovoltaic panel or the a radiant cooling panel. 
     
     
       7. The building-integrated hybrid photovoltaic and radiant cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the radiant cooling panel and the photovoltaic device form a single integrated structure. 
     
     
       8. The building-integrated hybrid photovoltaic and radiant cooling device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a solar thermal collector. 
     
     
       9. The building-integrated hybrid photovoltaic and radiant cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the chiller is a thermally driven chiller. 
     
     
       10. A hybrid photovoltaic and radiant cooling method utilizing the building-integrated hybrid photovoltaic and radiant cooling device of  claim 1 , comprising:
 supplying a cooling fluid to a radiant cooling panel; 
 conveying the fluid from the radiant cooling panel to cool a photovoltaic panel separated from the radian cooling panel by a gap along the flat surface of the panels; 
 transporting the cooling fluid from the photovoltaic panel to the chiller; and 
 reducing a surface temperature of the radiant cooling panel only to the extent necessary to also avoid condensation being formed on the radiant cooling panel. 
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the hybrid photovoltaic and radiant cooling device is configured to be employed with a variety of facades and roof forms, and to be mounted at a variety of inclinations. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 10 , in which a plurality of hybrid photovoltaic and radiant cooling devices are mounted in series with one another. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 supplying air compressor with electrical power by the photovoltaic device. 
 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising
 opening and closing a window comprising the photovoltaic device and the radiating panel. 
 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the hybrid photovoltaic and radiant cooling device comprises cooling pipes having capillary tubes. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the radiant cooling panel and the photovoltaic device form a single integrated structure.